Pianist works hard to “be the best of the best”

Junior Spencer Smith effortlessly runs his fingers up and down the keys of a grand piano, filling the Colton Recital Hall in the Fine Arts building with beautiful music.

Smith started playing piano when he was four years old, began taking lessons at age eight and continues to pursue his passion by majoring in music performance at the University of South Dakota.

“There’s a challenge about it I really like,” Smith said.

The South Dakota Music Teachers Association/Music Teachers National Association piano recital took place Oct. 26 in the Warren M. Lee Center for the Fine Arts at USD, in which  Smith participated.

Two college students and five elementary and high school students participated in the recital, allowing them to practice and prepare for the upcoming SDMTA/MTNA piano competition Nov. 7-8 at Augustana College in Sioux Falls.

Smith competed in the competition last year and plans on competing again in a couple of weeks.

“It’s a different area of performing,” Smith said. “You’re being judged while you play. It’s part of the challenge, keeping your cool and not completely blanking out.”

Susanna Skyrm, a professor of music at USD and president for the South Dakota part of the SDMTA/MTNA, said it is a professional organization for music teachers to maintain and raise the standards for teaching music. She said it provides students with opportunities to perform through the competitions.

“It gets them practicing and learning their repertoire,” Skyrm said. “It’s also a growing experience for them to put out the work that they’ve done.”

Susan Gray, also a USD professor of music and SDMTA/MTNA member, said the competition also keeps the students on their toes and motivates them to prepare for the performance.

Smith said striving to be the best of the best keeps him motivated.

“There’s always work to do,” Smith said.
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“You never can stop, because if you stop it kind of falls flat.”

Gray and Skyrm said they both continue teaching because of how exciting and rewarding it is to see students like Smith grow in their musical abilities and their jobs also allow them to share their passion for music with students.

Smith hopes to go to graduate school after graduating to continue pursuing his passion for music performance and possibly teaching.

“It’s a really good way of expressing yourself, and you can communicate with people,” Smith said. “It’s the universal language.”

There will be another recital featuring pianist Kirill Gerstein  Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Colton Recital Hall at the Fine Arts building. The event is free and open to the public. Gerstein will also give a masterclass in Farber Hall in Old Main the same day from 10 a.m. to noon.

(Photo: Junior Spencer Smith finishes his piano recital Oct. 26 in the Warren E. Lee Center for Fine Arts. The recital allowed Smith and other perfomers to practice and prepare for the upcoming SDMTA/MTNA piano competition Nov. 7-8 at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. Natalie Keller / The Volante)